Every month Logos Bible Software offers a free book and an additional book for just 99 cents. This month’s pair is an awesome pair of OT commentaries – one on Isaiah and the other on Jeremiah – written by excellent OT scholars.

In this important addition to the Old Testament Library, renowned scholar Brevard S. Childs writes on the Old Testament’s most important theological book. He furnishes a fresh translation from the Hebrew and discusses questions of text, philology, historical background, and literary architecture, and then proceeds with a critically informed, theological interpretation of the text.

This book of Jeremiah offers a remarkable range of literature, including prose, poetry, homilies, oracles, and proverbs. This commentary understands the book as a work of religious literature, to be examined in its final form, yet with careful attention to the historical contexts of writing and development through which the text took shape. Jeremiah proclaimed a message of coming judgment, because of the people’s unfaithful worship, and yet also emphasized the call to know Yahweh and to live as God’s faithful people. Through it all, Leslie C. Allen identifies a trajectory of grace, in which the proclamations of doom can be understood within the context of promises for a renewed future.

A unique combination of biblical teaching, scientific research, and personal biography shows those who follow Jesus how to live joyful, purposeful lives.

In The Happy Christian, professor and pastor David Murray blends the best of modern science and psychology with the timeless truths of Scripture to create a solid, credible guide to positivity. The author of the acclaimed Christians Get Depressed Too, Murray exposes modern negativity’s insidious roots and presents ten perspective-changing ways to remain optimistic in a world that keeps trying to drag us down.

The Happy Christian invites readers to shed negativity and become countercultural missionaries by demonstrating the positive power of the gospel in their lives. (HT: Hand & Heart)

If you would like to enter to win a copy (paperback if you are in the contiguous US – digital if you are elsewhere) here’s what you need to do:

Comment below regarding why you want to read this book or how you have recently experienced joy in the Lord.

I think the author of Ecclesiastes wrote that or someone else. I don’t really remember… I’m kidding. But really though – whoever is publishing these self-help books is making bank! The formula is pretty easy – you tell the reader that if they follow a few simple steps they will be on track for a better, more fulfilling, happier life. Books like that kind of make me want to gag! So when I saw David’ Murray’s new book The Happy Christian: Ten Ways to Be A Joyful Believer in a Gloomy World, I was shocked! Really Dr. Murray! Don’t tell me you have succumbed to the self-help market too! Well – I read the book and I was pleasantly surprised (and definitely relieved)! The title sort of sounds like a self-help book but its not!

In The Happy Christian Murray makes the revolutionary claim that Christians should be the most joyful people on earth. Who would have thought! I mean it seems pretty obvious right? But most Christians don’t actually live joyfully like that. Here is what Murray has to say about Christian happiness:

Christian happiness is so large, so multi-layered, so multidimensional, that its virtually impossible to define in one sentence. But let me try: Christian happiness is a God, centered, God glorying, God given sense of God’s love that is produced by right relationship to God in Christ and that produces loving service of God and others. (xix)

Murray certainly isn’t repacking a health, wealth, and prosperity gospel. Nor is he advocating for the power of positive thinking – he is returning to the core conviction that Christians should be the most joyful and happy people on earth simply because we know God.

Murray begins with three very simple things we need to get right if we are going to be happy:

Facts + Thoughts + Feelings

Prioritize the facts – what is actually true? Interpret the facts! Use the facts do dictate your thoughts and feelings. If every believer simply did this they would live much happier lives.

After establishing this basic foundation Murray walks through several areas where we can begin to find joy in our lives…

Find joy in your salvation

Find joy in community

Find joy in common grace

Find joy in praise

Find joy in serving

Find joy in work

Find joy in diversity

As Christians we have many reasons to be joyful!

Sidenote: My favorite part of the book was the chapter on diversity. Murray is brutally honest and transparent with his own failings and sin when it comes to pursuing diversity. He explains how God challenged him in this area and how he came to repentance. Then he paints a beautiful picture of how God intended his bride to be a diverse body representing people from every tribe, tongue, and nation.

Who is book for? Really is for anybody who wants to experience more joy of the Lord in their lives. If that’s you – and you are ready to shed the negativity in your life and exchanged it for the positive power of the gospel then pick up this book when its release in a few weeks.

Until then… I have a copy of the book to give away!

To get a free copy do one of the following things and you will be entered to win a copy:

Comment below regarding why you want to read this book or how you have recently experienced joy in the Lord.

Like this blog post.

Re-blog this blog.

Like my post on Facebook and/or tell me why you want a copy of the book.

I have to divert your attention to Logos for a second, they are offering a free copy of John Wesley’s Sermons on Several Occassions. It consists of 141 sermons! This will definitely be an invaluable resource for preachers; with the tags in Logos you will be able to find awesome stuff from Wesley’s sermon for your own sermons.

When checking out at Logos.com, make sure you use coupon code WESLEYFB.

This is an excellent and highly entertaining biography. It is very well written; at times it felt as though I were reading a novel, not a historical biography. But more importantly than that it is comprehensive, it goes beyond merely reporting the standard story, but instead strives to get into Bonhoeffer’s mind. Marsh understands Bonhoeffer’s theology, and he seems to understand some of the things that really acted as driving forces in Bonhoeffer’s life. I recommended that you read this biography alongside of Eric Metaxas’ biography so that you will be able to form your own picture of who Bonhoeffer really was.

Today I would like to announce that I am doing my first ever free book giveaway! The publisher has graciously provided me with an extra copy to giveaway, so I want you to have it!

So you might be wondering… How do I get a free copy?

That is a great question! There are two things I need you to do:

Follow me on Twitter – my handle is @CWoznicki

Tweet at me why you want to read this book

It’s as simple as that! At the end of the week I will take all the names of people who have followed me and tweeted at me about the book this week, and I will randomly select a winner to send a free copy of this book to. And don’t worry, the shipping is covered as well!